Read Online Lacy's End by Victoria Schwimley - Free Book Online Page B

is going on in here?” she demanded.
    Roger and Millie pulled apart. An amused grin played at the corners of his mouth. He whispered in her ear, “I never knew you were such a good kisser.”
    She grinned back. “You should have asked.”
    Mrs. Bart cocked a finger at them. “Come on, you two,” she added, “Millie Watson, I’m surprised at you. I’ve seen you do some pretty careless things before, but I never thought I’d catch you fornicating in the bathroom.”
    As the door was closing, Lacy heard Millie gasp and exclaim, “I was not fornicating!”
    The door opened again, and Lacy heard Jenny protesting. “They were both in there, Mrs. Bart.”
    “Jennifer Pearson, you get to class right now and let me worry about this.”
    The door closed again, and Lacy heard, “But, Mrs. Bart….” Then silence fell as the group wandered away.
    Lacy waited for what seemed like ages for the door to open again—but it didn’t. She eased out from behind the trashcan, stole over to the door and opened it slightly. She stuck out her head, looking for signs of loiterers.
    “That was fun.”
    She jumped, clutched her chest, and gasped. She looked beside her and straight into the eyes of Jake. “What are you doing here, Jake?”
    He smiled and said, “The game looked like fun, so I thought I’d join you. The coast is clear, by the way.”
    “What?”
    He gestured toward the hallway. “You can leave now. Everyone is tucked away in their classrooms learning their ABCs. Well…except for Millie and Roger. I don’t think they’re going to be around much for a while. That teacher sure looked angry. Are we going back under the bleachers?”
    She started to walk down the hall. “No, and she wasn’t a teacher. She’s the vice-principal.”
    He shrugged and fell into step beside her. “I don’t see the difference.”
    She stopped walking, gaped at him and then picked up the pace. She shook her head. “You’re an odd one, Jake.”
    “If we aren’t going under the bleachers, then where are we going?”
    “I’m going to my class, and you’re going to your class.” She eyed him suspiciously. “You do have a class, don’t you?”
    He shrugged. “Sure.”
    “Good—then go to it.” She paused, her hand resting lightly on the door to the chemistry lab. “Goodbye, Jake.”
    He began to walk away, whistling a tune. He turned and waved. “See ya after school,” he said.
    She waved and smiled, amazed to find herself looking forward to it.
    She pulled open the door, pleased to discover the students were in the middle of an experiment and didn’t notice her enter. Mrs. Horton did, however, and looked at her. She cocked her head slightly to the left and motioned her over. “Where have you been? And where is Millie?”
    Lacy shook her head. “I don’t know where Millie is.” She bit her lower lip and begged a thousand pardons from God for lying. She leaned in and whispered to Mrs. Horton, “I started my period and had to wait for someone to bring me a tampon.”
    Mrs. Horton shook her head. “That’s the same excuse you used last time, Lacy.”
    Lacy shrugged. “I can’t help it if I’m irregular.”
    Mrs. Horton sighed. “Take your seat. You’ll have to do the experiment on your own since your lab partner seems to be missing.”
    Lacy took her seat and stared dumbly around. She hadn’t a clue what they were even doing. Tony leaned over. “We’re studying hot and cold reactions using baking soda, lye, vinegar, zinc, and hydrochloric acid.”
    “We did that at the beginning of the year.”
    Tony pointed across the room. “Yeah, I know, but brilliant-brain Billy over there almost blew up the lab, so now we have to review.”
    Lacy rolled her eyes and sighed. “Well, at least it’s easy since I don’t have a partner.”
    At that moment, there came a loud bang from the corner of the room. They all turned to look and saw Billy covered with black soot. The kids all laughed while Mrs. Horton groaned.